Construction clip



Filed Oct. 15, 1965 INVENTOR'.

trvs.

United States Patent C) 3,357,148 CONSTRUCTION CLIP Henry C. Turner, Doylestown, Pa, assignor to CFE, Inc., Hammonton, N..I., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Oct. 15, 1965, Ser. No. 496,397 4 Claims. (Cl. 52-357) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A construction clip for securing panels to studding of angular configuration including at least one flange having opposed front and rear faces, the clip comprising an elongated fiat base and first and second pairs of tongues projecting generally perpendicularly from opposite side edges of the base comprising a pair-of diametrically pposed pockets for supporting panels in coplanar relation. The base has a cutout recess having at least one side edge portion provided in one side edge of the base spaced inwardly from the outer terminal ends thereof and each tongue projecting from said one side edge of the base is bifurcated to define aligned gaps in the tongues having a side edge portion aligned with the side edge portion of the recess in the baseto properly orient the clip relative to the studding. In the assembled relation the cutout recess in the base confronts one face of the flange of the stud ding and a portion of each tongue engages the rear face of the flange to support the clip in place on the studding.

This invention relates generally to building construction and more particularly to a new and improved form of clip for mounting plasterboards or the like to framework of the wall or ceiling structure of a building.

The clip of the present invention is adapted particularly for use in certain wall and/or ceiling constructions for buildings where the framework includes studding, usually metal, having an angular edge configuration. In these wall or ceiling constructions, the studding, in the case of a wall, is oriented vertically at spaced apart locations and panels such as lath board are roughed in against the studding. The adjacent panels are held in edge-to-edge relation by means of these clips and the clips further serve the purpose of securing the panels to the wall studding. Thereafter, the wall may be finished by plastering the panels, in the case of walls, or applying tiles to the panels in the case of ceilings.

An object of the present invention is to provide a clip of the above type characterized by novel features of construction and arrangement whereby the clip may be easily and quickly assembled to the studding and panels and provide a positive, firm locking action between the panels and the studding.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a clip of the above type which is of comparatively simplified construction and which is easy and economical to make by means of a conventional stamping-forming operation from flat sheet material.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a clip which serves the dual purpose'of holding adjacent panels in assembled relation and also firmly securing the panels fiush against the studding so that only one type of clip is needed for erecting the entire wall structure.

These and other objects of the present invention and various structuraldetails and features of the clip of the present invention are hereinafter more fully set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view showing a section of a typical structure for wall or ceiling wherein the panels are held to one another and the studding by means of a clip'constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on lines 2-2 of FIG 1;

3,357,148 Patented Dec. 12, 1967 FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the clip assembled to the studding and supporting adjacent panels in edge-to-edge relation;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on lines 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view as viewed along lines 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an end view of the clip of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view showing the clip partially assembled to the studding;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a clip constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a modified form of the clip shown in FIG. 8.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown a section of a typical wall structure for a building generally designated by the numeral 10. This wall structure 10 includes a framework comprised of a plurality of elongated spaced apart studs 12 which may be supported at opposite terminal ends in channels or runners (not shown) mounted in the ceiling or fioor respectively. The studs 12 which may be made of metal comprise, as best illustrated in FIG. 2, a pair of elongated chords 14 of L-shaped or other suitable cross section and a brace or web structure 16 of serpentine configuration connecting the chords in spaced apart relation. The wall structure 10 further includes a plurality of panels 17, for example plasterboard lath, of generally rectangular form which are mounted in, abutting edge-toedge and end-to-end relation up against the framework by means of clips C.

Considering now the specific structural details and arrangement of the clips C and particularly the form shown in FIG. 8, the clip C comprises a pair of'diametrically opposed pockets P and P of channel-shaped cross section for receiving adjacent edge portions of adjacent panels to mount them in coplanar relation.

More specifically, the clip C comprises an elongated, generally rectangular, centrally disposed base or body portion 20 having opposed planar faces 22 and 24 defining the bottom of the pockets P and P a first pair of spaced apart tabs or tongues 34a, 34b projecting generally perpendicularly from one face 22 of the base 20 defining the side enclosures of the pocket P and a second pair of tabs or tongues 36a, 36b projecting generally perpendicularly from the opposite face 24 of the body portion and defining the side enclosures of the pocket P The tongues or tabs are of generally U=shaped configuration, the tongue 36a-comprising a pair of spaced apart leg members 38a, 38a integrally connected with a side edge 39 of the base adjacent opposite terminal ends thereof and a bridge portion 40a connecting the leg members 38a, 38a at their outer ends remote from the base 20. The tongue 34a also comprises a pair of spaced apart leg members 42a, 42a projecting from the side edge 39 of the base inboard of the leg members 38a, 38a, and a bridge portion 44a connecting the leg members 42a, 42a. The bridge portions of the tongues 34a, 36a have outturned edges 46a and 48a to permit easy engagement over the side edge of the panels.

As best illustrated in FIG. 6, the tongues 34a and 36a are disposed at a slight inward angle relative to a plane transverse to the base forming a pocket having a narrower opening thereby to resiliently press the panels inserted therein. The tongues or tabs 34b and 36b are bifurcated to facilitate assembly to the studding. To this end the tongues 34b and 36b comprise a pair of spaced apart leg members projecting in opposite directions from a common side edge 49 of the base 20, the outer leg members 5%, 50b of the tongue 36b being disposed adjacent the opposite terminal ends of the base. The leg members 50b, 59b confront the leg members of the tongue 36a and are disposed outboard of the inner leg members 52b, 52b of the tongue 34b. The leg members of the tongues 34b and 36b as best shown in FIG. 6, lie in a common plane L transverse to the base 20 to locate panels 17 flush against the studding in the assembled relation in the manner illustrated in FIG. 3. By this construction, the clip may be formed from a fiat sheet of metal stock which may be suitably scored and cut by conventional means to form the base and elements of the tongue to form the clip as shown in FIG. 6 and described above.

In the present instance, each of the leg members 50b of the tongue 36b has a finger 60b formed integrally therewith which projects inwardly from the outer end of the leg member 50b. The fingers 60b confront and are parallel to the bridge portion 40a of the tongue 36a. The inner terminal ends of the fingers 60b, as best illustrated in FlGS. and 8 are spaced apart to provide a gap G therebetween. The outer side edge of the fingers 6012 have outturned outer edge portions to facilitate insertion of the panels.

One of the leg members 521) of the tongue 34b has a finger-like projection 62b extending from its outer terminal end generally parallel to the bridge portion of the tongue 34a and spaced from the opposite leg member of the tongue 34]) to define a gap D approximately equal to the gap G and aligned therewith in a direction transverse to the base. This finger 62b and the outer terminal edge of the opposite leg portion of the tongue also have outturned outer edges to facilitate insertion of the panel. The base 20 has an inwardly offset cutout 66 in the side edge 49 between the leg members of the tongue 34b to define a recess within which the flange 14a of the chord of the metal studding seats in the assembled relation as best shown in FIG. 4.

There is shown in FIG. 9 another embodiment of construction clip C in accordance with the present invention. The overall configuration of the clip is similar to that described above and includes an elongated generally rectangular base 120, a pair of spaced apart tabs or tongues 134a and 1341) projecting perpendicularly from one face of the base 120 and defining the side enclosures of one of the pockets P of the clip and a pair of tabs or tongues 136a, 1361: projecting generally perpendicularly from the opposite face of the base and defining the side enclosures of the other pocket P of the clip C.

The tongues are of generally U-shaped configuration, the tongue 136a comprising a pair of spaced apart leg members 138a, 138a, and a bridge 140a connecting the leg members. The tongue 134a also comprises a pair of spaced apart leg members 142a, 142a projecting from the side edge of the base and disposed inboard of the members 138a and a bridge portion 144a connecting the leg members. As in the previously described embodiment, the bridge portions of the tongues have outturned edges to permit easy engagement over the side edge of the panel and the tongues are disposed at a slight inward angle relative to a plane transverse to the base thereby to resiliently grip the panels when the side edge portion of a panel engages in the pockets.

The tongues 13417 and 13617 are bifurcated and comprise a pair of spaced apart leg members projecting in opposite directions from a common side edge of the base, the leg members 150b, 15012 of the tongue 136k being disposed adjacent the opposite terminal ends of the base and disposed inboard of the leg members 152b, 1521: of the tongue 134b. These leg members lie in a common plane transverse to the base to locate panels flush against the studding in the assembled relation in the manner illustrated. This clip also may be made from a flat sheet of metal stock by suitable cutting, scoring and bending operations.

Each of the leg members 1501) has an inwardly directed finger 16911. One of the fingers 16% has an outwardly offset tip portion 161i) to provide an opening or gap G therebetween. One of the leg members 15% also has an inwardly directed finger 16212 projecting from its outer terminal end which likewise has an ofiset outwardly directed tip portion 1711b to define an opening or gap D, generally aligned with the opening or gap G. The base has an inwardly oflset cutout 166 in the side edge 149 between the leg members of the tongue 1314b to define a recess within which one flange of the chord seats in the assembled relation.

Consider now the use of the clips C in assembling the panels 17 on the framework to form the wall structure 15). The panels 17 are positioned against the framework in rows and staggered relative to one another much the same as a masonry wall composed of bricks. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the panels 17 are usually a length to span several of the studs 12. In each row, the panels 17 are postioned flush up against the one flange 14a of the chord 14 and then a clip C of the type described above is engaged over one of the chords and moved down so that the pocket of the clip engages over the top edge of a panel to secure the panel firmly and flush against the studs. More specifically as best illustrated in HQ. 7, the clip C is positioned angularly relative to the flange 14a of the chord 14 so that the edge of the flange 14a engages between the gaps D and G and abuts the bottom of the recessed cutout in the base 20. The clip C is then rotated to a position wherein the flange 14a nests in the recessed cutout 66 in the base. In this position the one finger 60b and the finger 62b confront the back of the flange 14a and the side edge of one of the leg members 52b and the terminal end of one of the fingers 60b confront the rearwardiy extending flange 14b of the chord.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the flange 14a abuts the long side of the cutout 66 and one side edge of the flange confronts a side edge portion of the cutout 66, the other side edge portion of the cutout 66 confronting the flange 14a of the chord. It is noted that the terminal edge of the fingers 69b and 62b engaging behind the flange 14a of the chord 14 clear the sinuous wire brace 16 so that the clip C may be moved along the chord and snapped in over the panel so that the side edge of the panel nests in the pocket P as shown in the drawing. With the panel 17 seated in the pocket P as illustrated, the opposing pocket P is set or disposed in such a way so that another panel may be inserted therein easily between the flange 14a and the outturned edges 46a defining the opening of the pocket P Further, it is noted that when the clip engages over the edge portion of a panel, the fingers 60b and 62b resiliently press against the back of the flange 14a, and the panel is firmly pressed up against the framework and the clip is locked in, that is, the clip may not be moved sideways when it is engaged over the panel.

The clip C may be assembled to the chord simply by positioning the clip flush against the flange 14a of the chord so that the finger tips 1161b and 171b are outboard of the free edge of the flange 14b. The clip is then moved transversely whereby the tips engage the side edge of the flange 14a until the chord is seated in the recess 166 whereby the fingers 16Gb and 162b press against the back side of the flange 14a. It is noted that the clip C and C may also be used at abutting adjacent edges of the panels remote from the studding as shown in FIG. 1.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is not intended to limit the invention and changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A construction clip for securing panels to studding of angular configuration including at least one flange having opposed front and rear faces comprising an elongated, fiat base, a first pair of spaced apart confronting tongues projecting in one direction generally perpendicularly from opposite side edges of the base, a second pair of spaced apart tongues projecting generally perpendicularly in a direction opposite said one direction from said base, said pairs of tongues defining a pair of diametrically opposed pockets for supporting panels in coplanar relation, means defining a cutout recess having at least one side edge portion in one side edge of said base disposed inwardly from the outer terminal ends of the base, at least one tongue of said first pair and said second pairs of tongues projecting from said one side edge of the base being bifurcated to define aligned gaps in said tongues, a side edge portion of each gap being aligned with the side edge portion of said recess in said base thereby to properly orient said clip relative to the studding, the cutout recess in said base confronting the front face of the flange of the studding in the assembled position of the clip and a portion of each of said tongues engaging the rear face.

2. A construction clip for securing panels to studding of angular configuration including at least one flange having opposed front and rear faces comprising an elongated fiat base, a first pair of spaced apart confronting tongues projecting in one direction generally perpendicularly from opposite side edges of the base, a second pair of spaced apart tongues projecting generally perpendicularly in a direction opposite said one direction from said base, said pairs of tongues defining a pair of diametrically opposed pockets for supporting panels in coplanar relation, means defining a cutout recess having at least one side edge portion in one side edge of said base disposed inwardly from the outer terminal ends of the base, at least one tongue of said first pair comprising a pair of spaced apart outer leg members projecting from one side edge of the base adjacent opposite terminal ends thereof, a finger projecting from the outer terminal end of each of the outer leg members and disposed generally parallel to the base, the inner terminal ends of said fingers being spaced apart to define an opening therebetween, at least one bifurcated tongue of said second pair of tongues also being of generally U-shaped configuration and comprising a pair of spaced apart inner leg members projecting from one side edge of the base and disposed inboard of the outer leg members, a finger-like projection extending from the outer terminal end of one of the inner leg members and having an outwardly directed tip to define a gap between the finger and the other inner leg member to define a gap aligned with the opening between the fingers of said one tongue of said first pair, a side edge of said opening and said gap being aligned with a side edge portion of said recess to insure proper alignment of said clip with the studding, the cutout recess in said base confronting the front face of the flange of the studding in the assembled position of the clip and a portion of each of said tongues engaging the rear face.

3. A construction clip as claimed in claim 2 wherein the width of said recess in the base is slightly greater than the width of the flange of the studding on which the clip is mounted.

4. A construction clip as claimed in claim 2 wherein the outer terminal end of a finger of the tongue of said first pair has an outwardly directed tip portion and the free terminal end of the finger-like projection also has a bent out ta-b portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,764,587 6/1930 Venzie 52-357 2,296,609 9/1942 Gibson et a1. 52357 3,144,733 8/1964 'Balinski 52-489 X 3,232,018 2/1966 MaoKean 52-346 BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner.

A. M. CALVERT, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A CONSTRUCTION CLIP FOR SECURING PANELS TO STUDDING OF ANGULAR CONFIGURATION INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE FLANGE HAVING OPPOSED FRONT AND REAR FACES COMPRISING AN ELONGATED, FLAT BASE, A FIRST PAIR OF SAPCED APART CONFRONTING TONGUES PROJECTING IN ONE DIRECTION GENERALLY PERPENDICULARLY FROM OPPOSITE SIDE EDGES OF THE BASE, A SECOND PAIR OF SPACED APART TONGUES PROJECTING GENERALLY PERPENDICULARLY IN A DIRECTION OPPOSITE SAID ONE DIRECTION FROM SAID BASE, SAID PAIRS OF TONGUES DEFINING A PAIR OF DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED POCKETS FOR SUPPORTING PANELS IN COPLANAR RELATION, MEANS DEFINING A CUTOUT RECESS HAVING AT LEAST ONE SIDE EDGE PORTION IN ONE SIDE EDGE OF SAID BASE DISPOSED INWARDLY FROM THE OUTER TERMINAL ENDS OF THE BASE, AT LEAST ONE TONGUE OF SAID FIRST PAIR AND SAID SECOND PAIRS OF TONGUES PROJECTING FROM SAID ONE SIDE EDGE OF THE BASE BEING BIFURCATED TO DEFINE ALIGNED GAPS IN SAID TONGUES, A SIDE EDGE PORTION OF EACH GAP BEING ALIGNED WITH THE SIDE EDGE PORTION OF SAID RECESS IN SAID BASE THEREBY TO PROPERLY ORIENT SAID CLIP RELATIVE TO THE STUDDING, THE CUTOUT RECESS IN SAID SAID CONFRONTING THE FRONT FACE OF THE FLANGE OF THE STUDDING IN THE ASSEMBLED POSITION OF THE CLIP AND A PORTION OF EACH OF SAID TONGUES ENGAGING THE REAR FACE. 